mkf. The entire Board of Directors of the International Family Federation participated in the Mass “toward 2014” on Saturday, the 28th, celebrated in the Original Shrine in covenant with Japan. Some youth from Chile, the Gold’s from Argentina, Pilar and Luis Jensen of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Families, members of Team 2014, and people from the area also participated. Once again the bilingual Holy Mass was celebrated in Spanish and German.
At the opening of the Mass, Father José Maria Garcia greeted everyone on behalf of Team 2014. He especially and proudly greeted the Martino’s, the Alliende’s, Zier, and the Marini’s- International leaders of the Family Federation – “the largest Schoenstatt community, larger than the Fathers, larger that the Sisters.”
In Covenant with Japan
The earthquake, the tsunami, and the nuclear catastrophe are no longer in the news said Father José Maria Garcia as he invited everyone present to pray for the people of Japan and the small Schoenstatt Family there: “News disappears, sorrow remains…” the sorrow of the many people whose lives were lost and those who have lost their health, their homes, their future. He recalled the twenty or twenty-five Catholic Japanese families who have gathered around the Pilgrim MTA for several years (It must have been that restless and missionary Virgin that entered Japan…).
On the eve of the 31st of May
A few days from the 31st of May, the anniversary of the third milestone of Schoenstatt history-Father Kentenich’s daring step at the cost of security and comfort to present his work and his charism of renewal to a Church that was not ready to assume it- we were invited to join the many celebrations on this day. Father Garcia mentioned the Bicentennial Mass in Paraguay held on the May 31st as a large project to form a covenant culture; this was an initiative of the Schoenstatt Youth from Asunción, whose desire of filling a soccer stadium with Paraguayans wanting to change their country with Christ and Mary…was accomplished!
